Holiday Hotels and Villas » Europe

Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:56:38 +0000

Puerto del Carmen is the jewel in the crown of Lanzarote´s tourist industry. Boasting wonderful beaches, excellent nightlife and high standards of accommodation. All of which have just been further enhanced by a massive cash injection of over €16 million from the local tourist board. Who are keen to keep the resort in tip top condition in order to beat off competition fro newer destinations around Europe and the Near East – such as Turkey, Egypt and Dubai.

Tourism in Puerto del Carmen certainly predates all of these newcomers – and this is in fact that place where package holidays first started being taken on Lanzarote during the late 1960´s and early 1970´s. At that time Lanzarote was considered a novel, even fashionable, destination. With VIP visitors such as Peter Sellers and Omar Sharif enjoying holidays here. Despite the fact that at this time there were no roads on Lanzarote and just one hotel – the Los Fariones, which remains open to this day.

As the cost of air travel and holidays abroad fell during the 1980´s Lanzarote and Puerto del Carmen become synonymous with package tourism. And during this period the resort really exploded from its original base in the Old Town Harbour area. Extending all the way along the beachfront in the direction of the airport at Arrecife. Creating two distinct areas – the Old Town and the New Town.

The Old Town remains the more atmospheric of the two, with the harbour at its heart. But the New Town is where most visitors will find themselves staying as this is where the majority of apartments and villas in Puerto del Carmen are located. Offering keenly priced accommodation that starts from as little as €180 per week for a basic studio on a centrally located complex.

The New Town also boasts the best beaches – most notably in the form of Playa Grande. Which is very aptly named as this is a sizeable stretch of sand that becomes packed with tourists during peak holiday seasons such as Christmas, Easter and the school summer holidays.

Puerto del Carmen makes an excellent base for tourists who want to visit the key sights on the island. As it is just a fifteen minute drive from the majestic volcanoes of the Timanfaya National Park and the many creations of the famous local artist Cesar Manrique. Holidaymakers can even visit the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura by signing up for a boat trip – all of which depart from the Old Town harbour area.

Golf Holidays In Portugal: A Golfers Guide To The Algarve

Travel Writer — Wed, 19 May 2010 06:27:40 +0000

Over the past decade golf holidays in Portugal have proved increasing popular as European golfers seek out top notch courses that can be played year round. This article focuses in on the Algarve region in the south, the home of Portuguese golf.

If you enjoy playing a different championship course every day of your golf holiday Algarve has courses by the dozen, and all within close proximity of Vilamoura. Indeed, the town is famous for its glut of golf resorts (Oceanico have over 10) of which the Millenium and Vilamoura Old Course are the best. The Old Course benefits really from having more mature fairways and greens which make them play more consistently.

Of the independent clubs in the area, Vale Do Lobo Royal is the most challenging, especially for amateurs, as the course design (bunker placement, green speeds) suits long accurate drivers. The nearby Pinheiros Altos and Quinta do Lago Laranjal are just as enjoyable and a lot more forgiving of errant shots.

On the eastern Algarve border with Spain is where some of the more exclusive (i.e. pricey) clubs can be found. The Monte Rei is rightly the number one club in the area, thanks in no small part to the great design by Jack Nicklaus, with no let up on challenging holes on the front and back nine. Equally enjoyable (and more wallet friendly) is the Quinta Do Vale course – a new design by Seve Balasteros that only opened in 2008 but is already proving a picturesque and well designed course.

Heading to the west coast it becomes noticeable how much the prevailing Atlantic breezes become a factor in how courses play. Nick Faldo knew this when designing the Oceanico desert style course incorporating undulating fairways and fast greens into the low lying terrain.

Close to Lagos there are also some hillside courses which afford the opportunity of spectacular views while you play. The Boavista has views of Lagos and the sea with several holes playing across the slopes to test your above/below feet shots.

Flying into Languedoc France

Travel Writer — Wed, 12 May 2010 13:34:35 +0000

Whether your flying in for a holiday or plan to move here permanently you will be pleased to know that the Languedoc region of France is especially well served by flights to and from the UK. The south of France has been a popular holiday hot-spot with UK tourists for a few decades now and their love affair with the French food, wine and weather shows no sign of abating.

In the eighties and nineties, before low cost airways really opened up the region, it was fairly common for holidaymakers to drive their cars to the UK coast and travel across the channel by ferry. From there it was either a very long one days drive down to the south or more relaxingly a two day journey with a stop off along the way. The motorways in France are a pleasure to drive on, not nearly as crowded as in Britain, but still the cost of petrol and motorway tolls was an expense that had to be factored in.

These days it is far more common to fly over with one of the many low cost airlines. By far the most popular is Ryanair. Although the airline itself is actually not very popular in terms of people loving the service, rather it is popular because of the number of flights and destinations it flys to and the cheap prices they offer. Ryanair pretty much dominate the flight market to the Languedoc with now five separate airports available to tourists.

Carcassonne, Perpignan, Montpellier, Nimes and now a fairly new airport at Cap d’Agde gives travellers a wealth of options when it comes to booking their time off here in the South of France. During the busy summer period there are several flights a day in and out of these airports and serving many different airports in Britain.

Cheap Island Holidays

Travel Writer — Wed, 12 May 2010 10:26:22 +0000

Island holidays are becoming more and more popular to tourist especially during summertime. Every year holidaymakers flock in various island holiday countries to have some fun and a relaxed break. There are many different types of family holidays for one to choose from when you take a trip to an island. And there are plenty of different types of accommodation from taking a hotel to taking a holiday home. However, some really find it hard to look for cheap island holidays especially nowadays, when almost all people are suffering from economic crisis. The first thing that you have to look for is your prospective destination. Here are some of the beautiful islands that you and your family can visit.

Bulgaria is one of the famous tourist destinations that you and your family can visit. It has plenty of picturesque attractions that you can explore. If you are a beach bum, you will surely enjoy the sandy beaches in Bulgaria and you can also discover the underwater beauty of the island by scuba diving and snorkeling. There are also mountainous areas that you can visit surrounded by remarkable sceneries. Bulgaria’s unique history is also an additional attraction to tourists.

One of the reasons why Corfu has remained to be popular to tourists is because of its gorgeous weather which complements its stunning beaches. The place also offers all sorts of entertainment even until the wee hours of the morning. It also ahs lots of shopping centers, bar and restaurants that serve on the scrumptious food. One of the ideal destinations for foodies is Corfu’s tavernas. With all these things that Corfu has to offer, you can be sure that you are getting your money’s worth.

The Algarve sits on the southern coast of Portugal. It has a warm climate and a perfect venue for beach lovers. The stunning beaches are surrounded with panoramic views. You will surely be captivated by its beauty and you will be amazed as you explore the place how flawless the beaches are with shimmering sand and crystal clear waters.

You can find cheap island holidays in these breath-taking places. You can check with online booking companies for cheap holiday bargains of the season. For your holiday to be unforgettable, always incorporate fun into your vacation.